Sweet Retribution by Siobhan Davis….Excerpt & Review

by Courtney

Sweet Retribution, the stunning conclusion to the Rydeville High Elite Series from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis, is available now!

The good thing about hitting rock bottom is I’ve nothing left to lose, and the only way is up.

He thinks he’s destroyed me. Broken me beyond repair.

But he always underestimates women.

All he’s done is reinforced my resolve. I won’t stop until justice prevails and he gets what’s coming to him.

Kaiden is the only light in the darkness. He gives me the strength to continue fighting for the future we both crave—a world where we are free to love one another and make our own choices.

Until then, the charade must continue.

Game on.

This concludes Abby and Kai’s romance. 106k words, full-length novel. This is a dark romance, and some scenes may be triggering. Only recommended to readers aged eighteen and older.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2AYKq0o

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Start the series today with Cruel Intentions!

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Excerpt

Abby

A chorus of agreement rings out around the room as everyone, unanimously, confirms their support.

Adrenaline courses through my veins, and I just know this is it.

The pivotal moment where everything changes.

Where the power shifts and the people in this room are primed to take back control.

I cast a glance over everyone again, and powerful emotion swims up my throat. Before, the guys were fond of tossing out sentiments that they would kill for me or take a bullet for me, and I was skeptical. Especially when everyone in this room has betrayed me in some way.

But that’s in the past.

Because I look at them now, and I know it’s the truth.

I know they are in this with me.

That they want this as badly as me, and they will do whatever it takes to help me reclaim control over my life.

It’s a surreal feeling.

To know I have such a formidable group of guys standing behind me, watching my back, and supporting my decisions. The feeling of empowerment is incredible. Indescribable. And exactly what I need to get me through the weeks and months ahead. It’s not going to be easy, especially the part I have designated to play. But I know I’m up for the challenge with my crew at my side.

We will make it happen.

This time, the bastard is going down.

And there will be no getting back up.

I am not a fan of the bully romance genre, but and this is a BIG BUT, I am a fan of Siobhan Davis and wanted to give this genre a chance with her. I thoroughly enjoyed and loved the first two books and was anxiously awaiting this one to see how Kai and Abby’s story ends. In the end, this definitely veered off the path of bully romance and more into the dark romance aspect but still didn’t wow like me the first two.

I am not sure where it happened in this book, but at some point, everything started to feel repetitive and annoying to me. Abby’s reactions to Kai (the need to constantly to have sex with him) or the twists and turns within the story that were to be shocking but just felt forced to keep the story alive or possibly the ignorance of so many secondary characters just became obnoxiously annoying. I really don’t know and I struggled to finish this one.

I love Siobhan and her ability to create worlds that are unique with characters that are fierce and strong. And she does with this series but in this particular book, I felt things shift and characteristics were not the same. Now that may have been what Siobhan wanted (her characters to grow and change because of their circumstances) but I had at least expected them to maintain the majority of who they were from the start.

So what such a drastic change from books one and two to this one for me??? I think the shock factors became too over the top and too much for me. I have always said that Siobhan does not write for sheer shock value and writes because it fits the story. But even I have my limit of when it just becomes too much drama for one couple to endure. Maybe if this all this happened and it was through different characters, I would feel differently. But it didn’t and therefore, just felt that most was written for shock value, which saddens me.

Does Siobhan deliver an angsty, dramatic and intense story?? Yes. Many of those who have loved the first two books will gobble this one up too. It is exciting, fast-paced and action-pack drama from page one. But for me, far too many things became repetitive and it lost it’s edge for me.

I hate being in the minority on books, but I will always be upfront and honest on books that I read. I also hate that this book didn’t live up to the first two for me. However, I am excited to see what happens in the future with this series. Siobhan has given us a lot of characters that I am hoping to see get future books and see how things pan out there.

About Siobhan

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’.

Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Siobhan

Subscribe to romance newsletter: http://smarturl.it/KennedyBoysList

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Blog Tour Dark Romance Excerpt New Releases New Reviews October 2019 Romance Romantic Suspense Trilogy

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War Of Hearts by S. Young…Excerpt & Review

by Courtney

War of Hearts by S. Young

Release Date: October 1, 2019

War of Hearts, an all-new adult paranormal romance by New York Times bestselling author S. Young.

Thea Quinn has no idea what she is. All she knows is that her abilities have been a plague upon her life since she was a child. After years of suffering at the hands of a megalomaniac, Thea escaped and has been on the run ever since.

The leadership and protection of his pack are of the utmost importance to Conall MacLennan, Alpha and Chief of Clan MacLennan, the last werewolf pack in Scotland. Which is why watching his sister slowly die of a lycanthropic disease is emotional torture. When Conall is approached by a businessman who offers a cure for his sister in exchange for the use of Conall’s rare tracking ability, Conall forges an unbreakable contract with him. He has to find and retrieve the key to the cure: dangerous murderer, Thea Quinn.

Thea’s attempts to evade the ruthless werewolf are not only thwarted by the Alpha, but by outside dangers. With no choice but to rely on one another for survival, truths are revealed, intensifying a passionate connection they both fight to resist. At war with themselves and each other, Conall and Thea’s journey to Scotland forces them to face a heartrending choice between love and betrayal.

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

Stepping back inside the motel room, Thea halted as Conall came out of the bathroom. His height caused a logistical problem for her next move.

Although his color hadn’t fully returned to normal, the wolf was looking much stronger. She didn’t know if she could take him in a fight when he was at full strength, which was more than a little concerning. As if he’d read her mind, he cut her an expressionless look. “You should have left me to die, lass.”

“Probably. I guess I’m just going to have to take the chance you were bluffing.”

He frowned and opened his mouth to question her, but Thea had already made her move.

Before he could comprehend it, she was on the bed behind him and reaching for his head before his weakened reflexes could catch up.

The crack of his neck echoed around the room, causing a sick lurch in Thea’s stomach.

For some reason, stupid tears stung her eyes as she watched his body hit the ground with an almighty thud. Why should she care? It wasn’t like he was dead. She’d knocked him out. For … however long he took to heal.

And he had stuck her with that goddamn injection.

Speaking of …

Thea jumped off the mattress, avoiding Conall’s body. Earlier when she’d been treating his wounds, she’d spied the syringes in the first aid kit. Grabbing them, Thea hurried out of the motel room and toward the fields beyond. Quickly she dug a hole with her bare hands and buried the syringes. Hurrying back, she avoided staring at Conall because he looked very much dead.

She grabbed his wallet and as she took his money, leaving him his credit cards, a folded-up photograph caught her attention. Curiosity got the better of her and she pulled it out. Smoothing her fingers across the picture, she spotted who she thought was Conall only to realize it wasn’t. The man who looked like him was standing next to a much younger Conall, and Thea deduced it was his father. The younger Conall had his arm around the waist of a small, redheaded girl buried into his side. And beside the man she’d mistaken for Conall was a beautiful redheaded woman.

Was this Conall and his family?

They were standing on a rocky beach, a beautiful lake and mountains behind them.

Thea wondered which one of them was sick. Which of these people was he willing to sacrifice her for?

Memories of her own parents swelled in her throat, burning and screaming to get out. But Thea shoved them back down as she shoved the photograph into his wallet.

There were times she pulled those memories out and let herself swim in the pain because it was worth it to remember the happy moments.

But now was not the time.

With a ruthless supernatural sure to wake up from a broken neck wanting to kill her, and some unknown entity out there hunting her too, now was very much the time to go.

Alot may not know but Samantha write PNR before she went into contemporary romance. I am so damn happy that she has gone back to her fantasy/paranormal stories. And she’s definitely improved so much since 2010.

War of Hearts was so much more than I anticipated. For one, the book is the perfect length for me (over 400 pages!) and it’s jammed packed from start to finish. Most authors would’ve made this book into duet but I’m so glad Samantha didn’t; it just wouldn’t have been the same.

For many who know me, I’m a huge Paranormal/Paranormal Romance fan but I’m super picky on them. Not only does there need to be strong characters (both main and secondary) but the plot needs to be told correctly along with proper world building. Too many times so much is thrown at the reader that it’s a mishmash of everything and the author loses the reader immediately. That is definitely not the case with War of Hearts.

Samantha brings life to this book. I could see every scene play out before my eyes as though I was watching a movie. Her characters were authentic and the world building was superb.

We first meet Thea who has been on the run for years. She’s a fierce and strong supernatural but has no idea what she is. And that’s not only her biggest asset but it’s her biggest threat and why she’s been on the run.

Conall is an alpha wolf and Chief of the MacLennan clan. He’s not only one of the strongest alphas but he has other supernatural tendencies that make him a rarity. He makes a deal with an individual looking for Thea in exchange for the cure to his dying sister.

It doesn’t take Conall long to find Thea. However, in his travels home, he begins to realize that not everything and everyone is being honest with him.

Samantha writers a very action-packed page turner. Her characters are strong, passionate and powerful. I love that Thea held her own against not only Conall but put fear in others. I loved everything about this book – from the world building to the plot to the amazing characters. This book was everything I love about PNR.

This book is a standalone but Samantha definitely leaves the ending open of hopes of more to come.

Go read this now!!

About S. Young:

Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Fight or Flight. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.

Connect with S. Young:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/

Website – http://authorsamanthayoung.com

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Email – authorsamanthayoung@gmail.com

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Kiss Me Tonight by Emma Hart…Excerpt & Review

by Courtney

What do a wrong number text, a burning building, and a quirky florist have in common?

A hunky firefighter with an extra-large…hosepipe.

Kiss Me Tonight, an all-new hilarious standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!

In hindsight, I never should have opened that text message. The last thing I needed first thing on a Monday was a picture of some stranger’s, um, eggplant, in my inbox.

I also should have replaced the batteries in my fire alarm, because my Friday night did not need to end with my apartment building going up in flames.

But it’s fine. It’s fine. Everything is fine.

I’m only lying in a hospital bed with more split ends than I’ve ever had, almost all my Earthly possessions have turned to ash, and apparently, they don’t serve wine to patients in this place.

But like I said, it’s fine.

Until he walks in.

The guy who saved my life. My hero. Noah Jacobs.

And the universe is amusing itself at my expense, because the dirty photo I woke up to on Monday?

It’s his.

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt

“Hi.”

I glanced over at him, my lips curving. “Hi.”

“You ready?”

“To escape the madhouse? What do you think?”

“That I should put my foot down.”

I winked and clicked my belt into place. “Let’s go. Where are we going?”

Noah pulled away from the curb. “I was going to let you direct me. I haven’t been in town long, like I said, and I definitely haven’t been out for lunch.”

I leaned back in the seat. “Hmm. What do you want to eat?”

“You’re the one breaking out of jail. I’m happy to go wherever you want to.”

“Oh, no. I hate making decisions like this. Do you know how difficult it is to pick somewhere to eat?” I shifted my whole body so I could look at him. “Do you want Chinese? Thai? Steak? Korean? Pizza? Burgers? Caribbean? Mexican? Spanish? French? Italian?”

Noah’s gaze darted my way. “Do you have all those places in Creek Falls?”

“No, but that doesn’t make the decision any easier,” I replied. “Well? Burgers? Pizza? Mexican? Italian? Steak? Or Chinese?”

“I don’t—shit me, I feel like I’m being interrogated by the fucking Government.”

“You may as well be. Pick somewhere and I’ll tell you where to go.”

“I said you can pick.”

“I don’t care. I’ve been everywhere. They’re all good. You’re the new boy in town. Pick somewhere.”

“You’re demanding, do you know that?”

“Yes, Preston—oh, he’s my brother—regularly points out how demanding and difficult I am.” I paused. “If you really want me to pick, I will, but you can’t complain after.”

He turned the blinker on so we’d head in the direction of Main Street. “You just said they’re all good.”

“They are, but it’s not my fault if you feel like pizza and end up with a taco.”

“I can honestly say that I do not care what I eat for lunch as long as it’s edible.”

“Right. Then turn left, then right, and pull into the parking lot next to the liquor store.”

“I see you’re taking us to a reputable location.”

“Oh, no. The liquor store is a pit stop. It just happens to be on the way to the Mexican place I like.”

“I see. So you’re using me for liquor.”

“You’ve met my great-aunt. Damn straight I’m using you for liquor.”

I have only been reading Emma Hart for a little over a year and she has quickly become one of my insta-reads without even reading the blurb. I knew what to expect in this book from reading the last book (we get a little lead-way at the end of each book for the next book) so there was no way I wasn’t reading this one.

As always, Emma has the perfect blend of romance, whit, humor and realistic life problems. What I love most about her books are how true to life her characters are and what they have to counter. They feel like your friends or neighbors and you love them immediately.

I love how this all started off with an accidental and unexpected dick pic. And the hilarity ensues but also so does the humility and humbleness from both Reagan and Noah. I loved this story so much and that is because of the ease of banter between them but also how natural things were. Everything was effortless – from the texting to the actual first “meet-up” to them eventually becoming more.

This will probably be my fave in this series because these Reagan and Noah just clicked with me immediately and I was all-in from the get-go.

Kiss Me Tonight was a great romantic comedy that I highly recommend to anyone.

About Emma Hart

Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages.

She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs.

Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud.

Yes, really. She’s that sarcastic.

Connect with Emma

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaHartBooks/

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Website: https://www.emmahart.org/home

Blog Tour Coming of Age Contemporary Romance Excerpt Four Loves humor New Adult New Releases New Reviews Romance Romantic Comedy September 2019 Standalone

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The Price of Grace by Diana Munoz Stewart…Review

by Courtney

Who can you trust
When family, truth, and love are all on the line?

Gracie Parish knows the true cost of trust. Rescued as a child by the infamous Parish family, she became a member of their covert sisterhood of vigilantes. Gracie saw her most precious relationships destroyed by secrecy. She learned long ago to protect her heart as well as her family’s secrets.

Special Agent Leif “Dusty” McAllister will do anything to uncover the truth about the Parish family’s covert operations. Dusty knows Gracie is his ticket in. He’ll use everything he’s got—fair, unfair, and just plain wrong—to break through her defenses. But the more he gets to know Gracie and her family’s mission, the harder he starts to fall. Neither one is sure they’ll get out of this with their lives—or their hearts—intact.

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

The Price of Grace is the second book in Diana’s Black Ops Confidential series and while it’s being listed as a standalone, there is an underlying second plot that ties the books together so I highly recommend them reading in order. I did not read the first book and while it doesn’t hurt the story of Gracie and Dusty, I did like I wasn’t getting whole story and that hurt the overall vibe of the book for me.

This is a very fast-paced, action-packed story with LOTS going on. Again, if you did not read the first book, there will be parts that will make the book feel confusing and hurt the flow for some readers because it deals with the underlying plot that is being pieced together through each book. However, the tension and chemistry between Dusty and Gracie help give another focus in the book and kept me wanting to see how things panned out.

I enjoyed this book due to the mystery and suspense and the gradual build between the characters. Nothing felt rushed even though the story does move at a fast pace. This book definitely has me intrigued enough into the main plot that I do want to go back and read the first so I have a better understanding of what is going on and be able to continue the series properly.

Overall, this series has a very interesting plot and I want to see how things play out and where the author takes us next. I am hoping that reading the first book will help clear up some of the confusing areas.

About Diana Munoz Stewart

Diana Munoz Stewart is the award-winning, romantic suspense author of the Band of Sisters series, which includes I Am Justice, I Am Grace, and I Am Honor. Visit her at dianamunozstewart.com.

Connect with Diana

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Blog Tour New Releases New Reviews Romantic Suspense September 2019 Suspense

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Ruined With You by J. Kenner….Excerpt &

by Courtney

She needs him, and her body won’t let her forget it.

Ruined With You, an all-new installment in the Stark Security series of standalones, from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner, is available now!

When her high maintenance boss is assaulted, manager Xena Morgan contacts the only person who can help—the sexy, arrogant, incredibly capable Stark Security agent Liam Foster. The former vigilante takes every case personally, and he’s determined to find answers—particularly since he thought he’d cleared this threat already.

Xena had been thrilled when Liam completed his assignment, because he affected her in ways she didn’t want to contemplate, awakening yearnings that threatened her deepest secrets.

But now she needs him, and her body won’t let her forget it.

As their attraction heats to a feverish degree, the web of lies, danger, and passion they find themselves in tangles further. Liam will stop at nothing to protect his client, even if it means sacrificing everything he holds dear … and exposing the secrets that may destroy him—and Xena—forever.

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt

If he was going to have inappropriate fantasies about an off-limits woman, it should be Ellie. But no, he’d gone and fixated on a reedy blond girl with a sharp tongue and eyes that seemed to look right through him.

He told himself he didn’t know why, but that wasn’t entirely true. She was sharp and determined. She spoke little, but when she did it mattered. And her loyalty to Ellie shone like a beacon.

All admirable qualities, but there was more to Xena Morgan, he was sure of it. And it was that mystery that intrigued him. Something raw. Edgy. He didn’t know exactly what was buried deep inside her, but he’d seen enough damaged people to know that her soul was at least as scarred as his.

But that didn’t make them compatible. On the contrary, that made them combustible.

And that meant that Xena Morgan was a complication he simply didn’t need. And the sooner he exorcised her from his thoughts, the better.

A burst of white light flooded the backstage area, and Liam realized with a start that rehearsal had ended. Ellie was leaning against a giant set piece, talking with one of the roadies, and there was no longer anyone standing in the wings opposite him.

Frowning, he started to step onto the stage, then hesitated, wondering if Rye would prefer he go straight to the dressing room. He turned to look for the manager, only to find Xena instead, her head slightly cocked, a knowing smirk playing at the corner of her wide, tempting mouth.

Too tempting, and he thanked his lucky stars and a deep well of self-restraint that he’d kept himself in check despite that final night at Ellie’s after-party when they’d stood too close together as the alcohol flowed and the city twinkled below them.

Her hair had been loose, and her soft curls had fluttered in the midnight breeze. Today, those blond strands were pulled back into a severe ponytail, a style that put her face on display.

It was a beautiful face, albeit in an unusual kind of way. The kind of face that probably photographed incredibly well, but in real life seemed a little too sharp, an effect that was softened by a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks as well as by her hypnotic blue eyes.

She wore skinny jeans and a white tank top, which clearly revealed that she was about as flat as your average twelve-year-old boy. Even in the flirty black dress she’d worn at Ellie’s party, she’d looked delicate. Ephemeral. As if he could break her with nothing more than a hug. He’d imagined her in his arms, their limbs entwined. His black skin in stark contrast to her pale white, so delicate she probably burned if she even thought about the sun. He wanted her under him, her fragile body crushed beneath him, her heart skittering in passion as she surrendered, trusting him not to hurt her despite his power to do exactly that.

She’d wanted him, too; he was certain of it. He’d seen it in her eyes. He’d heard it in her breath. But he’d known damn well that he’d never risk having her, not knowing where it might lead and what demons he might unleash.

Ruined With You is the third book in Kenner’s Stark Security series. I have not read the previous books (will rectify that) and while it did not ruin this particular story, as with all Kenner series, there is this underlying connection between the books that just really drives everything home. I would recommend reading them in order but again, can easily be read as standalone.

As for this book – WOW!! I have always known what to expect when it comes to Kenner’s book – great characters and an amazing plot with tension, suspense and lots of emotion.

I really don’t know where to start or what to say without giving tidbits away. Liam and Zena’s story is one I had not anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed.

Liam loves and lives for his job and friends. He gave up on the whole thing years ago and has never left any room in his life for it.

Xena is my warrior woman!! She has seen things at a young age that no one ever should. Due to her past, she too has chosen to not leave any room for love. Just excelling at her job as a personal assistant to a rising star.

However, when what Xena thinks is a problem for her client is hers, things get ugly. And that is all that I am saying because if I say anymore, I feel as though I will ruin all the pent up suspense, tension, action etc that you will experience while reading this.

I loved everything about this book and will definitely be reading the others along with whatever else Kenner publishes. Great series that I hope never ends.

About J. Kenner

Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over one hundred novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A six time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy) and in 2017 for Wicked Dirty in the same category. Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development as a television show.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

Connect with J. Kenner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JKennerBooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliekenner/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-kenner

Stay up to date with J. Kenner by joining her mailing list: http://juliekenner.com/contact/subscribe-to-the-julie-kenner-newsletter/

Website: www.jkenner.com

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The Lost and Scarred by T. Marie Alexander….Review

by Courtney

Title: The Lost and the Scarred

Series: Kingston City Limits

Author: T. Marie Alexander

Genre: YA / NA Contemporary Romance

ROX
When I was six, Wran Belmont found me buried in snow and gave me a place to live.

He became my best friend.

When I was fifteen, I gave him all of me—only for him to abandon me.

Now, he’s back and expecting the lost, scarred girl he’s left behind. I’m not that girl anymore. And while I may still have secrets, it will not be as easy for him to retrieve them this time around.

WRAN
When I was eleven, my father lost his job and became a pathetic excuse for a father. A few months later I found Roxanna Raine buried in snow, barely hanging on to life.

Her father was the reason mine was an alcoholic, and I thought about letting her freeze to death.

One look in her eyes and she became my kryptonite. I swore I would get my revenge, though, even if it was on the fair-skinned beauty.

When I was nineteen, I left Rox without an explanation—broken-hearted and even more lost.

Now, I’m back and I’ll do anything to make up for the stolen time.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47147360-the-lost-and-the-scarred

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VBPGH7P

The Lost and Scarred is a tough book to rate for me. While I was immediately pulled into the story, there are also quite a few things that I had issues with.

Ms. Alexander truly knows how to grip her readers attention and keep them glued to the story; there is no denying that. I was quickly devouring this book from start to finish because I had to know what would happen next and the suspense of it all was very gripping.

It’s within that gripping plot where I had problems with the dynamics of the characters. I have no problems with the push and pull of the main characters. It always adds another element of suspense to the story, however with this book, it was too much. These characters frustrated me to no end with their back and forth. While Roxy would forgive or look the other way for something that Wran did, she couldn’t see past something so juvenile that Caden does. And that’s just one thing that irked me. I won’t say anything else in fear of giving parts of the story away, but it’s the characters and their personalities that really hurt this story for me.

Overall, yes it is very enticing and gripping story. As much as the characters frustrated me, I was still hooked on the story and had to know where things ended. I am definitely going to read the next book as the author has left the ending wide open for further development and many things unanswered.

About T. Marie Alexander

T. Marie Alexander dwells in Arkansas with her husband and a few annoying ghosts. She can be found sitting at a computer on any given day, usually writing or watching YouTube. When she is not doing either of those things, she’s reading on her Kindle. T. Marie’s dream of becoming an author started around the age of seven when she would glue small pages together and write about her favorite thing at the time, boy band crushes.

Contemporary Romance New Adult New Releases New Reviews Romance September 2019 Suspense

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Darkest Sinner by Rachel Van Dyken

by Courtney

Darkest Sinner, an all-new standalone paranormal romance in The Dark Ones series by Rachel Van Dyken is LIVE!

I’ve always known pain. Existence. Night.

Made a sinner.

Without a soul to keep me tethered to the world I so desperately want to be a part of but am damned to rule…

Life isn’t living.

Not when everyone sees you as enemy number one, King of the demon race and yet something much more… powerful and sinister pulses beneath the surface of my skin.

It started when I met her, the power surging under my fingertips like the cruel universe was finally answering my screams at night for something more.

And just like that, the memories come, only I don’t know if they’re mine or someone else’s entirely.

Long ago, I made a bargain with a god.

A soul for a soul.

I spent thousands of years without this awareness and now?

Everything I touch turns to ash.

Even my own immortal friends fear what I am.

Everyone but her. The day to my night.

Part of me doesn’t want to know what I am.

But it’s too late, too all-consuming.

Darkness is coming.

That darkness, I’m afraid. Is me.

Download your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2mek4DB

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/DarkestSinnerRVD

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2l9Z2Ws

The Darkest Sinner is part of RVD’s The Dark Ones Saga but it can easily be read as a standalone.

I have enjoyed all the books so far in this series because each story is so well developed. Timber and Kyra’s story I felt wasn’t as fully developed as the others so I was a bit letdown with this one. However, it’s still a great story and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

RVD does a great job of explaining the backstory of who Timber and Kyra were and came to be, but I felt that their present day story wasn’t as fully developed. I wanted more of interactions between them and banter before everything came to a head.

RVD really knows how to keep her readers engaged in the story and keep things not only interesting but highly entertaining. Timber is trying to figure out why he’s suddenly having changes to happen and no-one has the answers. Kyra’s on her own since her parents have once again gone off another trip and she is working at Timber’s bar.

There is a lot of attraction between these two but that also creates a lot of tension between them. This is where I wanted more depth in the story because it felt that things quickly moved to the next phase of the story and this tension is never truly expanded upon. It is in that next phase where RVD excels and has her readers enthralled with the plot and characters.

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I did want more of certain aspects, but I still blasted through this story quickly and loved the majority of it. I am really hoping we get to read more in this series.

About Rachel:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with Rachel:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR
Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Fantasy Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Paranormal Paranormal Romance Release Day Event Romance September 2019 Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review….Neat by Kandi Steiner

by Courtney

“Rival families. Deep secrets. Exact opposites who can’t help but cross all the lines. Neat will leave you thirsty for more Becker Brothers!” — bestselling author Staci Hart

Neat, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Kandi Steiner is LIVE!

My life is over.

I swore I would never work at the whiskey distillery with my last name on it, that I would never be a part of my father’s legacy. But when I graduated with my art degree and realized there were no jobs, the devil appeared, and I sold my soul, agreeing to work in the family business if he’d give me the art studio I’d always dreamed of.

It can’t be that bad, I thought.

Until I realized my new boss was Logan Becker.

The Becker brothers have a reputation for being trouble, and since I love trouble, it’s no surprise to me that I’m infatuated by that forbidden fruit the first day I walk into the distillery. That lean, whiskey-eyed, too-hot-for-his-own-good man hates me — and I can’t blame him. His family has been at war with mine for decades, and for good reason.

The Beckers and the Scooters are the Montagues and Capulets of Stratford, Tennessee.

But if he’s Romeo, and I’m Juliet? Well… we all know how that story ends — and for that reason, I tell myself to steer clear.

Because if my father finds out I’m falling for Logan Becker, my life actually will be over.

And Logan’s will be, too.

Neat is a stand-alone book in the Becker Brothers Series.

➔ Small town

➔ Country

➔ Romeo & Juliet vibes

➔ Angst paradise

➔ Holiday romance

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Qg5p9D

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/NeatKS

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2LOF0N8

Excerpt:

“So… I guess we should just be…” Logan swallowed. “Friends?”

The way he asked it, the way his eyebrows bent together, his lips flattening — I knew it was a hollow offer.

I nodded. “Sure. Of course.” A smile that felt like a wave of nausea found my lips. “Friends.”

Logan watched me, and I watched him, both of us waiting for something more. It seemed like there were a million unborn words between us, floating in the air, waiting for us to reach out and grab them and bring them to life. When a long moment of silence had passed, Logan bit the inside of his cheek, picking up his highlighter he’d abandoned on the desk when I’d walked in like he was ready to get back to work.

“But,” I said, and his eyes snapped to mine, the highlighter frozen over the page. “I mean… there’s another option, isn’t there?”

Logan dropped the highlighter, leaning back again. “There is?”

“I’m just saying,” I said, voice shakier than I wanted it to be in that moment. I took a sip of my coffee, shrugging. “What if we kept things low key… casual… just between us?” My eyes found his again. “It is what it is, and it’s not what it’s not. Right? No need for anyone to know.”

“Low key,” Logan repeated, like he was tasting the words, checking them for poison with his tongue. “So, friends… with benefits.”

I snorted. “If you want to be twenty-one about it, sure.”

Logan nodded, over and over, just a slight movement of his chin up and down as he considered it. I watched him as he stood, and I expected him to start pacing the office, but instead, he crossed it, closing his door and turning to face me.

His eyes swept over me, sparking a fire low in my stomach.

He wet his lips.

He took a step.

And then I was out of my chair, meeting him in the middle, the two of us crashing together like magnets.

His hands weaved into my hair when he captured my mouth with his own, both of us sighing on an inhale, moaning on the exhale, leaning into each other like we could somehow melt together completely. All the electricity I’d felt that night came back like a tidal wave, and I surrendered to the waves, letting them drown me. I wanted him to fill my lungs, to conquer every breath, to imprison me.

It was a kiss that told me we were both lying. We both wanted more.

But if it was a choice between this, or nothing at all?

There wasn’t a decision to make — not where I was concerned. It had already been made for us, without either of us having a say, without either of us having an ounce of control to throw this story in another direction.

We were inevitable, me and him.

And maybe we knew it from the start.

Logan backed me up to the desk, and when my ass hit it, I hiked both legs up, wrapping them around his waist and squeezing. He hissed, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth and releasing it with a pop, his hips rolling against mine. I broke the kiss to let out a gasp, and his mouth was on my neck in an instant, sucking and biting, my eyes rolling back at the contact.

He paused with his lips by my ear, breathing heavy. “I think this could work for me,” he whispered, running his tongue over my ear lobe. “This… friends agreement.” His hands squeezed where they held my hips, and the familiar pressure sent flashes of Saturday night barreling through my memory. I gasped, mouth still hanging open when he kissed my neck over to the opposite ear to whisper again. “What do you think?”

Against the voice inside me warning me not to, I ran my fingers through his hair, gripping those dark strands and pulling his lips back to mine.

That kiss was an answer.

That kiss was a lie.

And distantly, I realized that kiss might be the biggest mistake of my life.

Kandi Steiner is going to do me in with these Becker brothers and this is only the second book!!

Logan is the quiet, reserved brother and tends to have everything planned out. He’s always had a crush on the one girl who he could never have, Mallory Scooter.

These two families have been at “war” for decades and it’s due to the distillery that their ancestors started together. Other things happened over the years that have caused this war to stay strong and it’s why aside from working together, anything else is forbidden.

Mallory has always done her best to steer away from what her family is known for and forge her own path. She wants nothing to do with the distillery. But then when her dreams are practically dashed, she is forced to turn to her father for help and assist in the distillery. Her passion is art and she won’t allow her free spirit to be contained.

Logan is unlike any other male character I have read before. He is this quiet and reserved man but he is so full of passion. I had no idea how quickly he would win my heart over. He and Mallory are complete opposites and it’s truly their opposing attributes that draws them together.

Kandi writes an amazing, and swoon-worthy romantic story. I love the small-town atmosphere along with each and every character. You feel each and every emotion and you so easily and quickly blast through these stories.

I am so excited to see what Kandi brings us next with the Becker brothers.

About Kandi:

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a diehard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer, and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi:

Mailing List: bit.ly/NewsletterKS

Facebook: facebook.com/kandisteiner

Facebook Reader Group: (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandischasers

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kandisteiner

Twitter: twitter.com/kandisteiner

Pinterest: pinterest.com/kandicoffman

Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:

www.kandisteiner.com/events

Contemporary Romance Excerpt Five Loves New Adult New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance September 2019 Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…The Dugout by Meghan Quinn

by Courtney

The Dugout by Meghan Quinn

Release Date: September 19th

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2lRZDMK

AVAILABLE NOW!!!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

AMAZON US: https://amzn.to/30v08us

AMAZON CA: https://amzn.to/2kSRIP0

AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2mpG92d

AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2mjMPyF

Blurb:

Let me ask you a question:

If someone is vying for your spot on a team and just so happens to injure you during practice, would you believe it was on purpose?

Word around campus is . . . it was no accident.

That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft. Now, I’m a senior fresh off recovery, struggling to find my groove, until the day I run into a nervous, fidgety, girl with freckles, in the dining hall.

They call Milly Potter The Baseball Whisperer, The Diamond Wizard, and The Epitome of All Knowledge. She believes in baseball. She breathes it. She’s the queen of an infamous dynasty, but no one actually knows who she really is, and she plans to keep it that way.

One mishap in the panini line, one miscommunication in the weight room, and many failed attempts at an apology equal up to one solid truth — Milly Potter never wants to speak to me again — no matter how good my forearms look.

Little do we both know, she’s about to become more than just my fairy ballmother.

Excerpt:

**CARSON**

Everyone knows me as the easygoing, fun-loving guy without a care in the world. You know who I’m talking about, right?

The guy who cheers when a couple kisses, who says stupid shit like YIPPEE when he’s excited, the guy who has no shame in shimmying his bare, bright white ass to his friends just to make them laugh.

I’m also the guy who is magically smart, can lead an entire bar to harmoniously sing any Taylor Swift song, lucks out in everything he does, and has impeccable taste in clothing—despite wearing a baseball hoodie every Monday. A dude must make himself feel better when the Monday blues hit and a hoodie does just that.

But have you guessed it? Do you see where this is going?

I’m not that guy anymore.

Nope.

Easygoing and fun-loving? Not anymore.

I spit venom at whoever dares to be in my presence. You know the old man who throws endless piles of shoes at the street youths as they walk by? That’s me, minus the incontinence problem and mothball smell. My days of singing Taylor Swift with a crowd are over.

Instead—if I even make it to a bar—I bury myself in a corner and sneer. Oh boy, do I fucking sneer. I sneer at anything and anyone that even attempts to look at my face.

That impeccable fashion sense I was boasting about? Gone. I think I’ve been wearing the same pair of athletic shorts for a month—not really—but maybe it’s a little true.
And the guy who lucks out in everything he does? Ha, my luck was cut short at the beginning of the season thanks to the square ass, dirty dick named Kirk Babcock, also known as Kirk BADcock by my team.

What did this Badcock do, you ask?

If you’re thinking he poked me with said bad cock, you need to get your mind out of the gutter.

What he did was even worse than winging his willy around on the baseball field.

So bad that you might need to brace yourself . . .

**FLAILS ARMS**

He committed a sin against all baseball etiquette.

The cardinal sin.

The biggest sin of all sins.

Are you sitting? I don’t want you to faint from the blasphemy I’m about to share.
Deeps breaths, everyone . . .

He . . . damn it, he slid late . . . at practice.

Gasp, I know.

I told you it was bad . . . my balls are shriveling up into my taint just thinking about it.
The dumbass freshman, who had too much juice in his junk, decided to book it to second during a practice game while Holt and I were fleshing out a double play. The dingleberry slid into second base two seconds too late.

Why is this a problem?

For those of you who might not be in the know—don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you—back in 2016, the gods of baseball developed a new rule; all players sliding into second must hit the ground first before touching the bag to avoid injuring the opposing players.

Layman’s terms: don’t be a dickhead and hurt people.

Apparently, Badcock didn’t get that memo, because the little turd nugget charged second base like an out-of-control steam train . . . just as I slid my foot across the base for the out. His dirty slide took my leg out, twisting me in the process, and tossed me to the ground.

As I fell, I heard a resounding snap that would make any grown-ass man throw up into his lap, followed by an immense amount of pain shooting up the back of my leg.
The motherfucker—stenchy bad cock—ruptured my Achilles tendon.

Like Achilles himself, I buckled to the ground and wallowed in pain while holding my leg, as if I let go, it would detach from my body and float right on up to heaven where it belongs for the many good years it gave me.

Badcock proceeded to fling his helmet off his head, get in my face, and apologize profusely, making up some excuse about tripping over his own damn feet. Yeah, okay, fart breath.

I’d like to see the tape for a full review, because I’m questioning the shit out of that statement. Tripped, my left nut.

If I was a freshman and got hurt, I wouldn’t want to rip the skin off Badcock’s scrotum, maybe just give him a swift lodge of my foot up his ass. But ripping scrotum skin, nah.
But guess what? I’m not a goddamn freshman.

I’m a fucking junior, and if you know anything about baseball, you know being a junior in college is one of the most important times in a guy’s life.

Because that’s the year you’re eligible to be drafted.

DRAFTED.

Brentwood University is known as a breeding ground for exceptional baseball players; it’s where the scouts come to find their next top prospects. If you want to play professional baseball, you either choose to go into the draft right after high school or be recruited by Brentwood. I chose an education so I had a possible career to fall back on in case something happened to me . . . like rupturing my Achilles tendon.

Can you guess where this is going?

Strike up the violins, because a sob story is coming your way.

I was ushered off the field and straight to the state-of-the-art training room where, after an excruciating physical exam, I had an ultrasound. It was then confirmed I’d be out of commission for the season. I underwent surgery, had the stupid thing stitched back together—let’s take a moment to be physically ill over the thought of that—and then put through an extensive rehab, missing my chance to be drafted.

You read that right, I was not drafted. My best friends were . . . I was not.

Because no one wants an injured player, even if he has tons of promise.

Even if he was the best second baseman in the country.

Even if he was supposed to be drafted in the first round.

Not one single team wanted to take the gamble to see if I could make a full recovery.
Isn’t that just peachy?

So needless to say, Kirk BADcock stays as far away from me as possible. As for me, I’d like to say I’m not a bitter man with a chip on his shoulder, but that would be a massive lie.

I have the biggest damn chip on my shoulder, so big that I named him Aloysius and I high-five him every morning, agreeing that we’re going to try to make at least one person’s life miserable that day.

My suggestion, if you see me around campus? Steer clear, run away, duck and hide, because I’m a polluted motherfucker with an equally rotten Aloysius on my shoulder ready to raise hell in your life.

Carson Stone is out for vengeance thanks to one moronic badcock.

TheDugout_teaser-5-2

The Dugout is the next book in her sports romance following The Locker Room. They are complete standalones and can easily be read in any order.

I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. I love Meghan, her writing style and her characters. She will always be an auto-read for me. However, this book is sadly, not one of my favorites of hers.

The Dugout is definitely full of humor with the bromance and interactions of the characters along with some angst thrown in. Something that I have to throw out there is that Meghan’s characters are very unique with their characteristics and antics.

We met Carson in The Locker Room and he is definitely more than just the funny best friend of Knox. He’s sweet and charming but when an “accident” thwarts his dreams and forces him to adapt. He knows that he needs to figure out how to get back on diamond and his best bet is Milly.

Milly’s life is baseball. She has three older brothers who all played baseball so she ended up finding herself extremely absorbed in the sport and knows everything and then some about the sport. She lives to help ball players become better and improve their game.

I loved the interactions of these characters. While they were definitely realistic in certain aspects, they are also entertaining with their funny personalities which makes them well-rounded characters.

So if I loved so much about this book, why not 5 stars?? For one, and this may get me a few side-eyes, but I had some issues with Carson. He just seemed to far-fetched at times with his mannerisms and personality. But what we really hurt this book for me was the twist at 75%-80% mark. It was way too similar to The Locker Room in too many ways and came across as a “cookie cutter” story and that just let me down, especially with Meghan’s books. It’s why made me drop the book a full star in rating.

Overall, yes this is a really funny read and most will enjoy the story. I enjoyed the majority of this story and the parts that did not work for me are more than likely a me thing. I would still definitely recommend this to anyone to read.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

M_Quinn_photo

Connect with Meghan:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormeghanquinn/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn

Website: http://authormeghanquinn.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meghan-quinn

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LitE4x

Contemporary Romance Excerpt New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance September 2019 Sports Standalone Three Loves

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Holding On To Forever by Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander…Review

by Courtney

Secretly dating Coach Parker’s daughter was never part of the plan. Neither was becoming her dealer…

Holding on to Forever, an all-new edgy, new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander is available now!

ADAM

Returning to my drug-dealing past wasn’t on the agenda when I accepted the full ride to play ball at Cypress U. But Mom lost her job. And my sister’s medical bills are mounting. So, I’ve no choice but to change the playbook.

When Emily walks into my life, like a fallen goddess with the ultimate power to destroy me, I know I’m screwed. I should steer clear, but I’m the one supplying her poison of choice. Falling for her is a complication I don’t need, but the more she’s around, the harder it gets to walk away. She needs me, and I crave her more than the sport I love.

Now, it’s all on the line. Including the NFL career that’s tantalizingly close.

The stakes are high, but family means everything, so I’ll take my chances.

EMILY

It’s only a problem if it’s out of control. And I have it in hand.

Except a certain a-hole discovers I’m using again, and he threatens to rat me out to my folks. Mom’s president of Cypress U, and Dad’s the illustrious football coach. Appearances mean everything to them, and I’m a continuous disappointment.

They told me I’d be out on my ass if I fell off the wagon, so keeping it a secret is my number one priority.

Until the super-hot all-star QB takes more than a passing interest in me. Adam gets me, in a way no guy ever has, filling my head with ideas of forever—and now, I want more.

Dating my dealer is a recipe for disaster, especially when it’s forbidden, but I can’t help myself.

Because I’ve fallen too deep.

And the hole is too large to crawl out of.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZY6gLR

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HoldingForever

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2N8BdKx

Watch the Trailer: https://smarturl.it/HoldingOntoForeverTR

Excerpt:

I’m half-tempted to call Donnie to make sure he gave me the correct address when headlights brighten the narrow alleyway.

The SUV is crawling toward me, and my nerves are jacked. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should find a decent part-time job to pay for my sister’s medical expenses, but I see no other way. We have to get her vest fixed or buy a new one. Selling drugs is the only way to make some quick cash. Besides, I’m good at it. I sold dope and pills for years, and I’d never been arrested. I always had my pulse on the neighborhoods, and I knew where cops loitered at night.

You’ve been out too long. Things might have changed, and you’re in a new state.

I push my inner thoughts aside. None of that matters. I’m always alert. I always know what’s around me, and as Mom tells me, I’m perceptive as hell. I have to be. Taking care of Mom and Phoebe—especially Phoebe—I have to be alert to her sounds, her breathing, and her emotions.

Thinking of my sister sends pain slicing through my chest. I can’t let anything happen to her. She spent two days in the hospital, where the doctor pumped her with antibiotics, until she started feeling better.

The SUV pulls to a stop, and a short stocky guy gets out of the front passenger seat brandishing a gun. The driver, a taller man than his compadre, follows.

I lift my hands as if a cop is arresting me. “I’m unarmed.”

Aiming the gun at my head, he stalks toward me. His dark eyes are hard, his mission resolute. “Move and you’re dead.” His deep voice is lethal.

An all too familiar wave washes over me, and I’m tempted to back out of this stupid idea to sell drugs and run before he pulls the trigger. I’m not any good dead to Mom and Phoebe. But I know his words are just a scare tactic while he frisks me.

I stand statue-still while the second dude, sporting a thin beard and no mustache, pats my sides, my lower back, down my legs, and straight down to my ankles. He sticks one finger in the air. “All clear.”

The stocky dude lowers his gun, and, inwardly, I grin. The goon didn’t find the blade in my boot. I’m not about to use it though. But I don’t walk into situations like these unarmed. Still, I make a mental note of the type of men I’m dealing with.

A tall man climbs out of the back seat. He’s sporting baggy jeans and a New York Yankees ball cap, and the gold bling around his neck probably weighs ten pounds as it glints off the dim light on the side of the car repair shop.

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. Donnie doesn’t show off like this dude. Donnie’s motto is blend in with the crowd. Standing out only draws attention.

“You must be Wrangler. I’m Ray Diaz.” Ray struts over to the metal garage door. “You understand I have to be careful.” He punches a code in on the keypad tacked to the frame of the door. Within a second, it opens.

I tuck my hands in my jean pockets. “I’m well aware of the industry.”

A deep chuckle erupts from Ray. “I heard. Donnie told me you were a cocky punk too.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “When I need to be.”

It’s been a few days since I finished this book and I really wanted to wrap my head around it and get my thoughts together.

The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention and knowing that Siobhan Davis was one of the two authors, I had high expectations of this being executed very well.

This book hits on a few subjects that may be tough for some to handle (drug addiction, rape, abuse). Siobhan has always been able to handle tough subjects in her book by keeping it real but also doing it respectfully. However, in this book I felt that the drug aspect came across as a bit surreal or more on the lighter side of addiction/drug use. By no means will this hurt most people’s reading of the book but for me, what I anticipated and what I got, did hurt the story for me.

Emily has a drug problem. She turned to drugs when she didn’t get the support from her parents when a terrible incident happened when she was 15. She’s been to rehab but was never able to truly kick the drugs. Both her parents are fairly absent in her life, but her father does try more than her mother.

My issue with Emily and her drug “addiction” is this: Emily has no problems staying off the drugs during the week and only taking them on weekends. For me, that’s a user and not an addict (yet). You do see her dependence kick in when life starts to get tough for her and her demons start to haunt – that is when the addiction kicks in. I won’t go into details but there’s more to her story than just the drugs and it is quite an intense story.

Adam is the star quarterback at their university but has a sister with cystic fibrosis and his mom struggles to pay the bills with a mediocre job (father left leaving mom to find a job to support them). He’s helped out in the past with selling drugs to keep money coming in and comes to a point where he has to again.

Now here’s my issue I have with him selling: he’s the star quarterback!! Even though he’s not selling on campus, he’s selling at raves and places where college students attend – they’re going to know who he is and that news will travel fast in college. Again, there’s more to Adam than just that but I won’t give away the good stuff.

Outside of all that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt most of the actions and nuisances of these characters were true to life and handled certain situations well. Now there a few things that are slightly exaggerated or fabricated but that’s needed to make the story entertaining.

These book flowed well and it was very hard to tell that two people wrote this book. There were times that chapters moved a bit too far ahead in the timeline and sort of made you stop quickly and realize we’ve jumped to a new day or so many days ahead. I understand the need for this to keep the timeline of things realistic and also prevent from adding filler and elongating the book, but at times it hurt the flow.

Overall, it was a good read. It kept me captivated and the characters were likeable. It’s a nice intro into what you can get from these two authors and the subjects they delve into.

About Siobhan

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Siobhan

Subscribe to romance newsletter: http://smarturl.it/KennedyBoysList

Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisAmazon

Author website: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisWebsite

Goodreads profile: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanGoodreads

Facebook page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisFacebook

Twitter profile: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisTwitter

Author Blog: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisBlog

BookBub Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisBookbub

About S.B.

I’m Susan Alexander, and you’ll find my books under S.B. Alexander. I’m an independent author with close to 20 titles to date. I write young adult and new adult romances that span the sub-categories of coming of age, sports, paranormal, suspense, and military fiction. My stories are emotional, angsty, and character driven.

In between writing, I spend time with my soul mate of 21 years who got a bad deal in life. Four years ago he was diagnosed with ALS. It’s a horrible disease, but we both have been making the best of life, laughing, smiling, and doing what we can together.

But writing is a great outlet for me to take my mind to another place. Plus, I have a great network of family, friends, fans, and so much more. I truly have an angel on my shoulder. My mantra is make the best of life because it’s too darn short.

I love to hear from readers and fans. Drop me a line by filling out the contact form on my website or you can email me at susan@sbalexander.com or stalk me on social media.

Connect with S.B.

Facebook: http://bit.ly/33zTiGU

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2KL1LP8

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Z4jGFF

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Z8vN4B

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2H602CY

http://sbalexander.com

Blog Tour Coming of Age Excerpt Four Loves New Adult New Releases New Reviews Romance September 2019 Sports Standalone

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Release Day Blitz & Review…Hated You Then by M. Robinson

by Courtney

From Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson comes Hated You Then, book 1 in the Love Hurts Duet.

Release Date: September 17th

A coming of age, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance filled with angst and all the feels.

I couldn’t remember a time before her… Harley Jameson.

Before she owned me.

Hated Me.

Needed me.

Before I hated her…

Things were simple.

We had an understanding.

Bully. Fight. Hate. It’s what we did.

Mind. Body. Soul. It’s how we loved.

I thought nothing would ever change that, until everything did.

She was mine.

Always had been.

Always would be.

Nothing altered that.

Not how much I hated her.

Not how much she hated me.

Especially, not how much I hated…

That I LOVED her.

Buy Here:

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | NOOK | GOOGLE PLAY

Hated You Then is another emotionally-charged book from M. Robinson. This is an amazing start to the duet and am so anxious to see what happens in Love You Now.

If you have read her Pierced Hearts duet, then this story may seem like a tad of a repeat or the same story but from a different perspective, however it is so much more than that. It sets the stage for what’s to come and it is so needed, especially for anyone who did not read that duet.

Harley and Jackson were frenemies throughout their childhood and that’s because their families were so close. Jackson thrived in torturing Harley and Harley dished it right back. Here moto for him was pretty much “Anything Jackson can do, I can do better.”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the antics these two put one another through. And Harley’s mouth – she was a spitfire as child and that only became more pronounced as she got older. Jackson is his dad through and through – no denying that and his actions, words and characteristics are proof of that.

I would love this to give this book 5 stars, but there was one thing that really bugged me and that was the actions versus the age of the characters. They acted older than they were at certain ages and it felt all wrong for me. However, I didn’t allow that to take away from the story as a whole.

Overall, I love how well Robinson is able to suck you right into the story and lives of these families. She does a great job of giving you a quick background on everyone without taking away from the story itself. But while doing so, she makes you want to go back and read the stories of everyone else and how they finally got their HEA.

I cannot wait to see how Robinson ends this duet and what she brings us next.

Love You Now

Love Hurts Duet, Book 2

Release Date: November 12th

Blurb to be released soon!

Add to your GR TBR

Pre-Order Now:

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Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein.

She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She was pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. However, she dropped out of school and became a fulltime writer.

She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes, Kobe and trooper, a Wheaten Terrier, Teddy and a Tabby cat, Gio.

She feels blessed to be living her dream.

Contemporary Romance Duet Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event Romance September 2019

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Book Promotion & Review

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What do a wrong number text, a burning building, and a quirky florist have in common?

A hunky firefighter with an extra-large…hosepipe.

Kiss Me Tonight, an all-new hilarious standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!

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About Diana Munoz Stewart

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Ruined With You by J. Kenner….Excerpt &

She needs him, and her body won’t let her forget it.

Ruined With You, an all-new installment in the Stark Security series of standalones, from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner, is available now!

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Secretly dating Coach Parker’s daughter was never part of the plan. Neither was becoming her dealer…

Holding on to Forever, an all-new edgy, new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander is available now!

Release Day Blitz & Review…Hated You Then by M. Robinson